Trace-coupling.



A. BULLE. TRACE GOUPLING; APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 31, 1910.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

, Urin s Ars Muur onirica.

ALBERT BULLEY, OF MELLEN, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS T0 JOI-IN BLAKE AND WILLIAM LAYMAN,

BOTH OF MELLEN, WISCONSIN.

TRACE-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT BULLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mellen, county of Ashland, and State of /Visconsin, ful Improvements in Trace-Couplings, which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trace couplings and has for its object the production of a trace coupling of improved construction and eiiicient in its operation.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a coupling embodying my invention, Fig. 2, an end view of the coupling, and Fig. 3, a sectional view on line of Flg. 1.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises two side members 1 provided at their outer ends with over-lapping hooks 2 and at their inner ends with perforated eyes 3 and 3. A bolt 4L passing freely through eye 3 and threaded in eye 3 serves to pivotally secure the members 1 together and to permit lateral movements thereof toward or away from each other. Near their outer ends members 1 are provided with inwardly projecting alining locking members 5 adapted to closely approach each other when the said members are secured in coupling position. n*The coupling is fastened to a whitfletree or other desired part by means of a securing strap 6 provided at its free end with a loop 7 inclosing a metallic sleeve 8 adapted to rest between eyes 3 and 3 and receive bolt 4c, as shown.

In usethe end link 9 of a trace is secured in the coupling by loosening bolt l and swinging members 1 apart on their pivot; then the link 9 may be passed over one of the members 1 and its corresponding projection 5. The over-lapping ends 2 are then swung together when link 9 is passed between projections 5 so as to encompass hooked ends 2. Then bolt 4 is tightened until members have invented certain new and use- 1 are secured against lateral separation, in which position projections 5 closely approach each other,'as shown in Fig. 1. In this posit-ion it will be observed that the link 9 will prevent the over-lapping ends 2 .from swinging apart and that projections 5 will prevent link 9 from becoming' disengaged` with either of the over-lapping ends 2. Thus the coupling will be securely held in locking position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction set forth but desire to avail myself of such variations and modiications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.- A device of the class described, comprising two side members having their outer ends over-lapping and their inner ends provided with bolt receiving eyes, one of said eyes being threaded; alining locking projections near the ends of said members; and a locking bolt passing through one of said eyes and threaded in the other, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described, comprising two side members having their outer ends over-lapping and their inner ends provided with bolt receiving eyes, one of said eyes being threaded; alining locking projections near the ends of said members, a secur- D. E. Bown, C. F. PETERSON. 

